Film projector cooling means



2 Sheets-Sheh 1 Filed March 8, 1955 INVENTOR.

DA v/o POL L A /v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1955 INVENTOR.

DAV/0 POLL/UV Uite a.

life of the lamp.

' 2,779,236 FILM raorrcren 'coomNG MEANS David Pollan; Jackson Heights, N. assignor to Yiewlex,

Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 3, 19'55, Serial No; 492,870

- scams. (Cl; 88 -24 This invention relates to film projector cooling'means,

'- and, 'more particularly, to film proj'ector designed for "maximum cooling of the light source.

I One of the most important 'proble'msin'the design of 'film projectors, especially of thehigh wattagesi'ze, ft')r 'instance, using 500 andlOOOWatt projector lampsis the tremendous heat generated by these' bulbs. This'proble'm 1 'is'so ac'u'tethat forced air-coolingis used in an cases, but

even that does not solve'the'pro'blem adequately.

Conventional projector lamps are generallyfa'irly long,

narrow cylinders 'andthey mu'st be 'fai'rly' =eompact in -"order to provide a'source of light ofgreat'intensity in a narrow beam. "These lamps aregenerally-constructed-bf 'for the fan and motor, it is generally 'not possible to cool the lamps sufficiently to'obtain their" rated life, 'What happens generally is that ajdesigncompromise is-reach'ed andthe lamps are runvery hot, with the res'ult that *theirlife is decreased, andthat in'many cases thel'arnp glass'evenmelts' or explodes as it -approaches the rated In order to provide sutficient' cooling, using known techniques, the fan and motor would have to be-ridiculously large. 'There is also a 'noise factor' to be considered, since a large fan and motor will" 'cre'ate a trem'endous amount ofnoise. r

"The projector lamp isa long, cylindrical -object' and in the presence of normal 'air currents, air bubbles "form on the outside surface of thelampfform'ing stagnant -air pockets which insulate the outer surfaceof thelamp' from the cooling air. By 'greatly increasing the velocity and turbulence of the'cooling air,'it is possible to'was'h these 'apockets'otf the-surface of the cylindrical objectfthereby removing the insulation of the air pockets and providing a much greater cooling effect. This'turbulence is one of the important features-of the present constructionfsince the greatly increased =velocity' 'of the air *Onall sides of the projector lampcreates a great deal'of'turbulence-all -around the lamp between the projector lamp; there'fiector,

'andithe" lens iminedia'tely in' front of the projector lamp, thereby-removing the insulating air pockets.

The present invention provides a projector casing which isdesigned to facilitate the flow of air'pastthe'parts ofthe projector which should be protected, namely, the

film, the lenses, and, most important, the projector lamp. The present projector casing includes a chimney through which air is drawn past the film and lenses, and also provides a longitudinal Venturi type construction adjacent the surface of the projector lamp so that the velocity'of the air past the lamp is greatly accelerated, thereby providing a maximum velocity and turbulence of cooling 'air exactly where it is needed around the surface of the Bate'nted" @3129, 1957 :2 A fit and motor are loeated' Behind thelamp and a conearran'gemem is providd b'ehind the fan and between the fan and motor, which 'deflec'ts 'the air: purer ithe fear-of the "side of the projectorl This-cone has been 5 found very advanta eous; and as'a matterof fact increases "'the feet" per minute rating 'of the ta'n and' 'motor considerably over thestandard r ating specified for this size motor. H

, 'fAccoi'dingly, a princijgia1?'tfla'jecflof the ihvention -is-to provide new and -'ini'prov'ed filth projecton means.

Air'o'thef object of the invhtion' is 'to providenew and improved film ='project'or-eooling means.

Another object ofthe inventio 'r newafld improved-film projeetormeans havi'n =-ebb1ing =means adapted to'cOOFthe lense' and proj'eot'or lamp.

"=Ano"therbject of tli iri i'ltion 'to 'revide new and "provedfilm pi'ojctor means -havi'ngco'oling 'me'ans adapted to cool the' film, th' lenscs and'projector lamp, comprising a chimney built in to *-the-projectorcasing ZO untIe'I'neath the" larnps :and'qonjgitndinal Venturi vane mea'nS' located adjacent the'p'roje'eto'rlamp.

Another obje'ct of the-invention is" to providenew and 1 improved "cooling means for-"film" projectors of the type -havinga 'fan and tho or, cempr irig ari'ovel co'ne'insrted behi ndthe fan afid adap'ted td deflect the airappibximately'90" I manner object or the invention is to provide new and "i'm'p'ro'ved'- means for coolii'lg' p'riojector lamps, and thereby increa'singtheir life. 1 1 "Another object-of the invention is to} provide new and improved mea'ns for irtiproving the efiic'iency of' film vpr ojectors, p j

These and other objects of the invention willbeap- 'pa'rent "from the foll'o'w'in g specification and drawings, bf which' Figure 1 is I an 'elevatiori -sectional view 'of' an" "em- 'bodiment of theiriv'ention, and

"Figure 2 is a *pa'rtial' plan sectional view of the em- 'bodiinent of'Fig'u're 1.

Referring now to Figure- -1, thereis generally sbown a a film projector having a casing l' upon which is genera'lly located a nose'portion 2," containing-the 'focusing len'ses *40. Condensing lenses '41 and heat 'filte'rs' are located in'the" forward portion 3, the projector lamp-4 located *behind the lens'es,-'a'nd a'fan'S'and rnotor'tiis located 5 in the rear ofthe casing. A"n ovel cone 7 is'locat'edbetween the fan and the' motor. The'purposeofthe cone 7 is todeflect the'air outthe grating "9 in' the'side of'the projector as shown by the arrows,'as will be-more fully discussed. .The' p'aths'of the air-"cu'r'rents are indicated by the'arrows. I j Y The inventioncan best be described by showing the flow past the various members; The air is gener'ally drawn from the'forwardlower portion of the projector "up through the'lower'portion 10"of the casingwhich is lapertured'to permit entry of'the air. 'A current "of" air ,flowsgas shown by the 'arrow- A,'up through the inner casing 11 around the front face of-the fi1m,;which is located in the area l2,' andarou"nd clockwise and down around the casing 11. Air is also drawn upthrough the chimney' 12's; and around the lens ,13 and heat'filter 14 and then isdrawn back towards "the fan andaroundthe "projectorlamp 4. Theflow of 'the 'air around theprojector lamp 4 will be more fully'described' in connection withzFig'ure'Z. Air is also drawn in .from the top forward portion of the projector shown by' the arrow B,behind -the film mounting space 43, aroundthe lenses 13 and heat filter 14 and then back around the upper portion of the projector lamp 4. The lens mountings may be spiders or equivalent open construction to permit free 0 passage of the air. v j

- Referringnow to Figure 2, a-pair of longitudinal air director members 20 and 21 are located beside the projector lamp and extends substantially the full length of the projector lamp, which is a long, narrow cylinder. The spacing between the director members 20 and 21 and the projector lamp is quite small so that these two directors have a Venturi effect, greatly increases the velocity and turbulence of the'cooling air around the surface of the projector lamp 4. V

The projector lamp is a long, cylindrical object and in the presence of normal cooling air currents, air bubbles form on the outside surface of the lamp, forming stagnant air pockets which insulate the outer surface of the lamp from the cooling air. By greatly increasing the velocity and turbulence of the cooling air with the present invention, it is possible to wash these pockets off the surface of the cylindrical object, thereby removing the insulation of the air pockets and providing a much greater cooling effect. This turbulence is one of the important features of the present construction, since the greatly increased velocity of the air on all sides of the projector lamp creates a great deal of turbulence between the projector lamp, the reflector 22, and the lens immediately in front of the projector lamp, thereby knocking or washing the air pockets off the lamp.

The most important part of the projector to cool is the surface area of the projector lamp. In large size projectors these lamps are generally rated at 500 and 1000 watts. Due to the small surface area of these lamps, and the necessarily restricted space inside the projector, the heat generated at the surface of these lamps is tremendous. This is further compounded by the fact that all of the heat and light energy is not dissipated in different directions, but a great portion of it is reflected by reflector 22 located at the rear of the projector lamp, which reflects all of this energy back through the lamp and into the light path through the film in order to project the image. Due to the fact that such tremendous heat is generated in this lamp, certain chemical changes take place inside the lamp which weaken the parts which are necessarily very delicate to begin with, and this greatly decreases the rated life of these lamps. Since these lamps are very expensive, the rated life is of considerable importance. It is interesting to note in this connection that in'very large projectors of the type used in movie theaters, the power requirements are so great that projector lamps cannot be manufactured with enough power in a sufliciently small space, so that projectors in movie theaters generally do not use lamps,-but use carbon arcs. This is an indication that there is a very real cooling problem, since the carbon arcs require considerable adjustment and maintainance and could not compete r with lamps if the lamps could be manufactured to do the job.

The life and efliciency of the lamps can be greatly increased by forcing more cooling air past them. However, the design factors limit the amount of cooling air that can be forced past the lamps, for instance, the fan and motors are restricted to a fairly convenient size for portable projectors, and in order to do an optimum job the fan and motor will have to be ridiculously large in comparison to the rest of the apparatus. Furthermore, the fan motors are quite heavy and this cannot be tolerated at a portable piece of equipment.

There is also a safety factor involved, since these lamps are liable to get so hot they willrexplode. Although if they do not explode, the glass envelope is liable to melt and expand and the lamp cannot be removed from the projector without breaking it.

The present arrangement of cooling the lamp and lenses has been found to markedly increase the efliciency and life of the lamps and also reduces the temperature of the surface of the projector.

After the air has been drawn past the lamps between fan 5, it is. driventhrough the fan onto the cone member 7, and thence deflected at an angle at 90 out the sides and/or bottom of'the projector through the grill work 4 23, the motor 6 being located behind the cone. The use of this cone 7 has been found to greatly increase the rated feet per minute of the fan. The reason for this phenomenon is not fully understood by the applicant and is not the result expected from theoretical aero dynamic considerations. However, it is known that aero dynamic theory does not apply too well to small air movements, such as being discussed here. It appears that the cone has some accelerating effect upon the air flow despite the fact that the air flow is deflected almost 90. There is a bell mouth 30 around the outside of the fan to prevent recirculation of hot air, and tends to increase the air pressure and velocity of flow.

The essential features of the present invention are believed to reside in the chimney which circulates the air around both sides of the film between the lenses and air filters, in the longitudinal Venturi construction which guides the flow of air past the lamp and in the cone construction associated with the fan. It is preferable that all the internal compartments and parts inside the projector be apertured to facilitate the passage of the cooling air with'the exception of the Venturi directors 20 and 21, which are designed to force the air to pass closely along the surface of the lamp at a greatly increased velocity. The construction of the fins 20 and 21 is such as to provide a uniform form of cooling effect which relieves stress and strains in the lamp envelope.

I claim:

1. Cooling means for film projectors of the type having means for mounting the condenser and projection lenses, a projector lamp, a fan and motor, comprising a first chimney means located in the lower front portion of said casing underneath said lenses, a pair of longitudinal air directors having generally V-shaped cross-sections located on either side of said projector lamp to give a longitudinal restricted air-channel means, said lamp being located behind said lenses and between the apexes of said V- shaped directors, a motor-driven fan located behind said lamp and a deflecting member located behind said fan, whereby air is drawn up through said chimney around said lenses around said projector lamp at a greatly increased velocity through said fan against said cone and out the rear side and bottom of said projector casing.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said air directors are designed and dimensioned to provide a longitudinal Venturi air channel effect, thereby greatly increasing the velocity and turbulence of air flow past the surface of said projector lamp.

3. Film projector means comprising a projector casing, a lens system mounted in the front portion of said projector, a light source located behind said lens system, a pair of air director means located on each side of said light source and having minimum cross-section in the plane of said source to give a longitudinal restricted airchannel means to greatly increase the velocity and turbulence of cooling air around said light source, a motordriven fan located behind said lamp and means located behind said fan and adapted to deflect the cooling air substantially 90 outside the casing of said projector.

. 4. Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said air director means adjacent said lamp extend the full length of said 7 lamp and are dimensioned and positioned to provide a longitudinal Venturi air channel effect, thereby greatly increasing the velocity and turbulence of cooling air past said lamp. 1

5. Means for cooling a film projector lamp, comprising a pair of air director means located on each side of said lamp at a slight spacing from said lamp and having minimum spacing between themselves adjacent said lamp, said directors being arranged to form in combination with saidv lamp, a longitudinal Venturi air channel opening, thereby greatly increasing the velocity and turbulence of cooling air past said lamp.

6. Means for cooling a film projector lamp, comprising a pair of air directors located adjacent said lamp at a slight spacing from said lamp, said air directors being arranged to form a longitudinal Ventun air channel opening having a minimum spacing adjacent said lamp, thereby greatly increasing the velocity of cooling air past said lamp, a motor driven fan located behind said lamp and a deflector located behind said fan adapted to deflect the air out said projector casing.

1,966,531 Tint July 17, 1934 6 Loomis Aug. 28, 1934 Perkins Mar. 14, 1944 Wengel Nov. 14, 1944 Nemeth Sept. 21, 1948 Fitzgerald Aug. 14, 1951 McMaster et a1 Sept. 25, 1951 

